In order to promote cleanliness in temples, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department has joined hands with the Chennai-based Exnora International, a non-governmental environmental organisation, to clean six major temples in the region.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held recently in Chennai. Under this initiative, the temples will segregate and collect the waste generated every day and dispose them off scientifically.
When contacted, Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Coimbatore, K. Rajamanickam told The Hindu that the preliminary works have begun for the phase I of the clean and green temples initiative. Now, the required data is being collected.
The data being collected includes, the quantum of waste generated by each temple, the nature of waste and seasons during which the public foot fall and waste generation is high. The data would enable to design projects at each temple level for handling waste.
There is no additional financial implication or manpower requirement on the part of HR&CE and the technical expertise, guidance and day-to-day operation would be monitored with the help of Exnora, Mr. Rajamanickam said.
The waste, both solid and liquid, will be classified into recyclable, compostable waste and hazardous waste besides segregating them into bio degradable and bio-non degradable.
The re-cyclable waste will be dispatched to agencies concerned and compostable waste will be turned into manure. These two are likely to bring in some marginal revenue.
The objective is to make the temples self-reliant in waste management rather than looking up to manpower and fund starved semi urban and rural local bodies, the HR&CE sources also pointed out.
To begin with the project would be kick started at the Marudhamalai Subramaniaswamy Temple, Perur Patteeswarar udanamar Pachainayaki Amman temple, Eachanari Vinayakar, Masaniamman temple at Anamalai near Pollachi, Vana Badrakaliamman temple near Mettuppalayam and Bannari Mariamman temple near Sathyamangalam.
Then, going by the experience gained in these temples, the same would be extended to all other temples in a phased as well as need based manner, the official said.
